Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people who have disabilities that stop them from working and earning a fair living. These payments help individuals meet their daily expenses and maintain their standard of living. It is important to note that not everyone with disabilities will qualify for disability benefits. One must meet specific criteria to be eligible and complete the process set up by Social Security.

Who can get disability benefits?
People become eligible for this benefit if they meet certain requirements.

• Disability or blindness
  Those with disabilities or blindness qualify for the federal scheme. But this is true only if the disability or blindness will affect their ability to work for a year or longer. Individuals also become eligible if a given disability can eventually become fatal.
• Health conditions
  People with certain medical conditions that meet the standards and definition of disability set by Social Security also qualify for the program.
• Work history
  Individuals are eligible for the program only if they worked for a while before the disability. Generally, one should have worked for at least five of the last ten years to fall under the disability umbrella. But there are certain exceptions to this rule. For example, those under 24 do not need to have worked as long to become eligible.
• Limited income
  Those with disabilities become eligible if their condition limits them from earning more than a specific amount, which Social Security calls Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). According to the latest updates, the SGA is $1,550 per month (or $2,590 for someone considered visually impaired, as per the rules). The SGA rules are different for self-employed people.
• Family members
  Family members of disabled individuals also qualify for select benefits. For example, the spouse, ex-spouse, or child of a person receiving disability benefits qualifies for Family Benefits, which are an extension of disability benefits.

The qualification criteria for SSDI benefits are pretty clear. To qualify for the periodic payments, people must have worked jobs covered by Social Security and have certain medical conditions or disabilities. The disability should be such that it makes the individual physically incapable of working for a year or more. In other words, their bodily condition should thwart them from sustaining their survival. The Social Security website has all the details regarding eligibility, which one can read to see if they qualify.

How does the program work?
Once a person applies for disability benefits and is accepted, they receive monthly payments, but after some time. Generally, one must wait for five months. Social Security pays the first benefit in the sixth month after the date on which one’s disability began. The benefits continue until people can find work again to feed and sustain themselves completely.

Social Security needs a waiting period to conduct investigations. This helps them avoid making payments to unqualified individuals. People who have developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and those approved for disability benefits on or after July 23, 2020, do not have to go through a waiting period to receive benefits from this program.

In addition to monthly payments, beneficiaries receive special incentives and support to transition back to work. They also receive healthcare coverage, which can be extremely useful.

People who reach retirement age while continuing to receive disability benefits have their payments automatically converted to retirement benefits. The amount remains the same.

How to apply for disability benefits?
People must apply for these benefits as soon as they become disabled. They can do so online on the official Social Security portal. Those who need help completing the application form online can contact Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Social Security representatives can make appointments for people to apply easily and without fuss.

Certain publications, like the disability starter kit, can help people with the information needed to prepare for their disability benefits interview conducted by Social Security or their online application. These kits can be used by adults as well as children under the age of 18. This starter kit has all the information one needs about:

• The application form
• Documents that need to be reproduced for a successful application
• General information about the various disability programs
• How the authorities make decisions regarding application approval or rejection

All in all, the kit provides invaluable information to people who seek details about the entire application process. Using the kit can help one avoid mistakes while applying. This is important because any mistake can lower one’s chances of selection and lead to unnecessary hassle.